Chapter 19
No!!!!!! Mara slammed her eyes shut at the sight before her. She could not bear to watch Luke end his own life. When she opened them again she was no longer on the balcony. She was back in front of the window. Looking around, no one had moved from where they had been sitting. What's going on? Looking outside she could see Luke still out there talking to Han. Her hands planted firmly at her sides she approached them. She stormed right past Han and grabbed Luke by the collar.
"You had better never even think of doing something like that!" she yelled.
"Ok," Luke said. He stared at her confused while she backed him up against the wall. "You mind telling me what I am not thinking about?"
"What?!"
"What is wrong with you, Mara?"
She stopped and thought about what this must look like to everyone. They had been having a quiet conversation when she rushed out and, well, just about attacked him. It was not real, she realized. But then why? A vision. Was the Force trying to warn her of something?
"If I ever hear of you wanting to give up, I will save you the trouble and kill you myself!"
"Mara, calm down. I have not given up," Luke said. He had his hands hanging lightly at his sides, not trying at all to move hers away.
"You had better not," she said, pushing him harder against the wall.
"I promise," he said. She could feel that he meant it, which confused her even more. Why had the Force showed her that possibility if he was nowhere close to doing it?
"It was just a vision, Mara," Luke told her. "Whatever it was, it was just something that could of happened, but didn't. I haven't given up." He cleared his throat before speaking again. "Could you let me go now, Mara? You press any harder and you would take care of it yourself."
It was then that she realized she still had him pinned to the wall. She quickly let him go. He rubbed his neck and smiled at her.
"Must have been on hell of a vision to get you that upset." She turned to see Han watching them both, clearly amused.
"What did you see?' Luke asked, trying not to laugh at Han's comment. Mara was upset enough, that would be all she needed to explode right then and there.
She looked over at the balcony. "You jumped." Luke shook his head in understanding while Han laughed.
"He was upset," Han said. "But not that bad. Besides, I would not have let him kill himself over this."
She turned her back to Luke and faced Solo. "Well, that's not the way I saw it," she spat at him. She disappeared back into the apartment just as fast as she had appeared.
"You've got a handful there, Luke," Han said after Mara had left. "She will surely keep you on your toes."
"Literally."
Leia looked around the room. When she came down here it had been because Han said Luke was sick. When she left her office she had no idea of what she was about to find out. Han did not seem that upset when he called, so she figured he had not known the extent of what had been happening. Looking over to the window, she could see Mara standing there lost in thought. She needs someone to talk to just as much as Luke does, Leia thought. She did not go to her, however. Mara was never one to talk to Leia and she suspected that if Mara wanted to talk to her, she would have started the conversation. No, she would talk to Luke. That was who she always went to.
Leia smiled to herself. No matter how hard she tried she could not picture Mara growing up on Tatooine. If she had, Leia realized, she would not be the same person that was here with them today. A large part of Mara was based on her experiences at the hands of the Emperor. When I met her, she would have been my sister in law, she realized. There is no telling what would have been different had Luke had Mara by his side during the rebellion.
She watched as Mara shifted position. She was taking this over very hard. Then the weight of everything that had been disclosed hit her. It was no wonder Luke and Mara had been acting strangely the last few weeks. It bothered her that she did not pick up on all it sooner.
Leia noticed Han still talking to Luke on the balcony. She could sense her brother's feelings heating up, but knew it was only because Han was making him talk. Han would know how to handle him. Cilghal had fallen quiet over the last few minutes; she had been reading the data disk again. She was offering no more information, probably waiting for Luke to return. Leaving Leia nothing to do but think.
Leia sighed. There was nothing she could do now but wait. Arielle was talking quietly with Kyia, who was not very happy. Arielle did not look much better.
"Why did you never tell me all of that?" the child demanded.
"Honey," Arielle said, her voice soothing. "I couldn't tell you. You have to understand, I was trying to look out for everyone."
"All this time I could have known who he was, but you did not tell me. How could you have kept that from me?"
"MaCayla…Kyia," Leia corrected herself. Try and keep her calm, talk to her in a manner she is comfortable with. It was the same instruction she had given Han one night when Jaina was upset and he was trying to calm her down. It was good advice that also applied here. "Do you understand everything your mother is trying to explain to everyone?"
"Yes. She is saying that she was married to him and was asked to leave," the child told her.
"Yes, but do you know why?" Leia asked. She could feel Arielle's gratitude with help in this matter.
"Because this guy, Kenobi, did not want her around," the child said. "I mean, from what my mom just said, that is what he told her, wasn't it?"
Leia took a deep breath. This was a very delicate situation. It was obvious to Leia that MaCayla knew little about Ben Kenobi. She was now a part of Luke's family, and they were bound to talk about what had transpired. Leia, knowing how much Luke cared for Old Ben, did not want his child to hate him. Not if she did not understand why he did the things he did.
"Back then, before you were born, things in the galaxy were very bad. The Emperor did some terrible things, and the Jedi back then needed someone who could help them. They believed that Luke… Your father," she stumbled over that title. It will take some getting used to, she thought to herself. "He has done some wonderful things. Things that Old Ben thought he would not do if they did not stick to the prophecy."
"So I was a mistake," she said. She did not know the girl well but it broke her heart to see anyone feeling the way she did.
"You were not a mistake." It was Cilghal that spoke. She had discarded the data pad and had rejoined the conversation. "When the prophecy was made, the Jedi tried to follow it exactly. When they couldn't the Force took over. Nothing is perfect. The future is always in motion. Your mother and father had you, it was for a reason."
"But in the eyes of the Force, I am a mistake," the child demanded.
"In the eyes of the Force, nothing is a mistake," Cilghal insisted. Leia was about to say something when she felt Mara's emotions explode around her. She watched as she turned from the window and all but ran out the door. Leia jumped up to see what was wrong, and everyone else followed her. She got to the door just as Mara pushed Luke up against the wall.
"Here we go again," Leia said. Cilghal nodded her head in agreement.
"Aren't you going to do something?" Arielle asked, fear tainting her voice. "She could hurt him."
"Mara?" Leia asked, looking at the woman standing next to her. "Mara would never hurt Luke. She has spent too much time trying to protect him. What ever set her off, she feels was Luke's fault. Once she gets her answers, she will leave him alone."
"And if she doesn't get the answers she wants?" Arielle asked.
"Luke is not dumb, he knows how to handle Mara. He is probably the only one that truly can." Mara finally stepped back away from Luke, and with a word to Han she came back into the apartment. She headed straight to the couch and sat down. Luke and Han came in a few moments later.
"Don't ask," Han said as he took hold of her arm and lead her back to their seat. Luke walked up to Mara, who ignored him. He smiled slightly and sat in another chair.
"Okay, where were we," Luke said, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"I would like to say something," Cilghal said, interrupting whoever was going to speak up. "If it's alright with everyone."
"By all means," Luke said, offering her the floor.
"Master Skywalker, it is no a secret o anyone in this room how your headaches have been bothering you. Though you look fine now, we all know how hard it is for you to hide it."
"And your point is, Cilghal."
"Forgive me, I may have said before that I had no other ideas on how to help you, but that is no longer the case. Something has come to my attention that I think might help."
"Such as?" Was she always this vague? Luke thought. He felt like pulling his hair out waiting for her to tell them what was on her mind. He took a moment to calm himself, realizing it was the pain talking not him.
"Let me try something first. Kyia could you come here?" she asked.
"Me?" the girl asked. She looked around uncertainly before getting up and approaching.
"When you were here earlier I noticed something, but was not sure then what it was. It wasn't until a few moments go that it finally dawned on me. Mara, when she touched you, you jumped, why did you do that?"
"Because she shocked me," Mara said.
"Was it the only time it happened?"
Mara took a few seconds to think about it before answering. "No."
"Master Skywalker?"
"It happened to me also. Back at the restaurant," he told her, wondering where she was going with this.
"Okay, that's what I thought. Now MaCayla, when those things happened what did you feel?"
"Um, well there at the door, I had no idea why I touched her. I was scared of her, but I could not help it. When I did it was strange. It scared me, so I pulled away."
"Would you mind trying it again?" Cilghal asked.
"Um…" The child still looked unsure. Luke looked up at Cilghal and nodded. "I'll be alright," he said, finally starting to understand. "I see what she is trying to do. All she wants you to do is touch my hand. We can see from there what happens." MaCayla looked over at her mother then reached out tentatively and took hold of his hand. Luke braced himself, and was able not to jump when he felt the shock. Reaching out with the Force he studied her. Without her even thinking about it she reached back. There was a rush of energy and Luke let go.
"What did you do?" Luke asked, hardly able to catch his breath. He swung his head trying to look from Kyia to Cilghal. "How did you do that? How did she do that?"
"Master Skywalker," Cilghal said awkwardly. It took her a few moments to gather her thoughts. "This is just what I thought it was. This is how my abilities first showed themselves. Started with one problem…one illness that I just could not leave alone."
"What are you saying?" Leia asked.
"I believe that this child's Force talent will fall along the lines of healing. That she tries, without realizing, to clear out the virus from both of you."
"Really?" Leia asked. "Can she do it?"
"I don't honestly know," Cilghal admitted.
"Well, there's one way to find out," Leia said, looking at her brother.
"Mom?" The child looked at her mother and it was easy to see how scared she was.
"Everyone stop, right now," Luke demanded. He looked back at the child. "Kyia, you don't have to do this. I make no one test their abilities unless they are ready. You already know you have them. When you feel you want to try and develop them, that's fine. Don't feel pressured into anything."
"Well…" she said, looking at her mother again. "Everyone has a purpose, right?"
"Uh, right," Luke said, not knowing she was just repeating what Cilghal had said to her earlier.
"Well, if I was given the gift to heal you two, then that must be mine."
"That is a very wise thought," Cilghal told her. "There is nothing to worry about, I will be watching very carefully."
"What do I do?" the child asked.
"Just what you have been doing," Luke told her. "But this time we let it run it's course."
"Okay," Kyia said, looking back at her mother again.
"There is nothing to worry about," Cilghal assured her. "We will be right here with you."
Luke sat on the couch and Cilghal instructed Mara to do the same. Cilghal knelt in front of them, and MaCayla joined her. Forcing himself to relax, Luke closed his eyes. He felt the light touch of MaCayla's hands on his and braced himself for what he now knew would happen. Even though he thought he was prepared he still gasped when the wall of energy hit him. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It reached every inch of him and it felt like the muscle was being pulled from his bones. He was unable to stop the moan as the pain continued to wash over him. He tried to think of something, anything that would keep his mind off of what was happening. He could feel Mara sitting beside him. She too was in pain, and when she felt his presence she held on to him, and they rode out the pain together. He could also feel, somewhere in the back of his mind, the worried minds of his family standing nearby. There was a nervous air around all of them that got worse every time he made a sound. His breath became shallow and his jaw was set, but he refused to pull back. It would be worth all the pain if this worked. Just when he thought he could take no more the pain was gone. He could feel her presence retreat, leaving him exhausted and more then a bit shaky. He reached out to Mara to make sure she was ok, and she returned his touch warmly.
He opened his eyes to see Kyia still sitting in front of him. Her cheeks we soaked by her own tears and he was suddenly filled with fear. Afraid that she had felt the same pain he had. She turned and buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
"Shhh, it's alright," she soothed. "Were you hurt?" The child said something and Arielle looked up and shook her head no. "Then what's wrong?"
"I could feel them. They were in so much pain, and it was because of me."
"Luke, how are you feeling now?" Leia asked. He was sitting back on the couch quietly listening to the exchange. When he heard the question he concentrated on himself. A smile slowly began to spread across his face.
"I feel good," he said. "Tired, but good. No pain."
"Mara?"
"I'm fine," Mara said.
"See," Arielle said, once again talking to MaCayla. "You did not hurt them, you helped them." She lifted the girl's chin with her hands and looked her in the eyes.
"You helped them." She turned and looked at Luke and he made himself smile. She seemed to accept that and began to relax. Cilghal stepped over to him and placed her hand on his. He could feel her checking for the poison and her shock when she did not find anything.
She straightened up when she finished and announced her findings to everyone. They were both completely cured. Luke sat back, relief flooding through him. It was over, and he was able to live through this one. It took a few minutes for anyone to speak. It was a surprise when Arielle broke the silence.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
It was an easy question for Luke, something he had already thought about. "It has been a very trying couple of months. I have all intentions of taking it easy for a while. And I am sure there are plenty of things that I can do during that time. We have a lot of catching up to do."
Kyia smiled hen he looked at her. They are still alive. It was amazing to him that they were sitting here, after so much time had passed.
"Will you contact your mother?" he asked, the thought suddenly occurring to him. "They would be glad to see you."
Arielle smiled sadly. "I just saw them last week, Luke. They have known all along what was going on. They were asked not to say anything to you."
"They knew?" He asked. Why am I always the last to know? He asked himself. He pushed the thought away though. It was all out in the open now, and getting upset now would not change a thing.
"I don't see a reason to keep it a secret anymore. Do you?"
"But Luke, you can't just go to the press and say: 'Oh look I found my wife and daughter after fifteen years.' When know one knew you were married."
Luke placed a loving hand on his sister. "That's why I have you," he said with a smile. "I know this is something you can handle."
"Oh, thank you," she said sarcastically.
"But wait, doesn't this mean that you two are still married?" Han asked.
"I don't know," Luke said, looking over at Mara. "I mean I thought she was dead all this time."
"You have the death certificate, right Luke?" Arielle asked.
"Yeah," he answered, wondering what difference a forged death certificate would make.
"Do you know where it is? Can I see it?"
"Sure. Let me go and find it." He walked quickly to his bedroom and opened his closet. There in the back sat a box that he rarely ever touched. Pulling it out he opened it. Inside were a few baby pictures of MaCayla and pictures of Luke and Arielle together. There was also an empty box that had once held the necklace he had given back to Arielle's mother. It was then that he remembered seeing it since then. Arielle was wearing it. I could have probably figured all this out a long time ago if I had only been paying attention, he thought to himself. Looking under all the other memories in the box he pulled out the envelope that he knew held the death certificate. Putting the box away he went back out to the living room.
He handed the envelope to Arielle who opened and read over them. Leia asked to see it and she two read over the information in front of her.
"Luke, you had to sign this right?" Leia asked.
"Yes, why?" he asked. Mara also sensing Leia's anxiety stepped closer to Luke.
"Luke, these are divorce papers. Not a death certificate." Luke went numb with shock hen he heard those words as Mara snatched the papers out of Leia's hands.
"She's right, Luke," Mara said, breathless. "You two are not married. You have been divorce for a very long time."
"Well I guess that takes care of that," Han said. "Mara, Luke, you two looked exhausted and I don't know about the rest of you, but I really have things I have to get done today. Luke, thank you for such an informative afternoon."
"Oh yes," Leia said, looking uncomfortably at her husband. "I really need to get back to work. Cilghal?"
"I will be needing to arrange a shuttle back to the academy," she said.
"I could help you with that," Leia offered. "It can be a real pain sometimes to get a shuttle out of here."
"I would appreciate your assistance."
Arielle looked around at the people beginning to leave and smiled. "Well we will be needing to go also. Kyia still has rehearsals today."
"But mom," the child started to protest.
"But nothing," Arielle insisted. "Lets go. You will see them later."
"Of course," Luke agreed. He walked everyone to the door, and closed it after them. "Not one of Leia's best exits."
"Yeah I got the feeling they were trying to leave us along for some reason."
"Yeah, Han noticed e were tried," he said with a sly smile.
"Do you really think that's why they decided to leave?" Mara asked.
"Well what other reason could there be?" he asked, slowly making his way back over to her.
"I could think of a few," Mara said, her voice dropping slightly. "Do you think you are really cured?"
"Cilghal thinks so," he said, finally reaching her, and slipping one arm around her waist. "There is one way to find out."
"I've missed you, Luke," Mara whispered.
"I haven't gone anywhere," he whispered back.
"I've missed this." Their lips met in the first kiss they had shared in a very long time.
